Mary H. Lenehan

Mary was born in Harrison, New Jersey to John and Helen Lenehan. She excelled in school and received bachelor's and master's degrees in teaching from Montclair State University. She worked as a teacher, vice principal and principal at multiple Harrison schools and was one of the five educators named as an Outstanding Elementary Teacher of America in 1975. She also held many volunteer positions, including as a Eucharistic minister and lector at Holy Cross Church and a president of the Rosary Society. She was a proud Harrison resident until she retired to the Jersey shore.

Mary was a beloved daughter, sister, friend, cousin, aunt, and great-aunt, and an avid traveler. She set foot on every continent. She visited penguins in Antarctica, rode the Orient Express, and went on a safari in Africa. She never let anything keep her from these epic trips, exploring the world until her 80s. She came home from each adventure with photos, stories and great Christmas presents for her loved ones.

Mary was funny, boisterous and above all kind. When she wasn't exploring the world, she loved to visit the beach near her South Jersey home and unwind with a Turner Classic Movies feature. She was an avid piano player who'd sit down at any keyboard she saw. Mary was a passionate chronicler of her family's history, and wrote a family genealogy that stretched back generations.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, John and Helen Lenehan, her brother Joseph Patrick Lenehan, and her close cousins, Arthur and Raymond Ford. She is survived by Janet and Terri Ford, her nephew Joseph John Lenehan (Cynthia Lenehan), her niece, Joan Sonzogni (Matthew Sonzogni), grand nieces and nephews Christy, Theresa, John Patrick, Matthew Jr. and Michael, great-grand nephew Donald, and cousins Judy Katz (Joseph Katz), Karen Breen (Daniel Breen) and Susan Ford, as well as "kidlets" Kerry, Shannon, Ryan and Sean Breen, Alexander, Rayna and Benjamin Katz and Delaney Ford.

A viewing will be held at the Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home in Livingston, on Monday, January 12, from 8:30AM to 9:30AM. Funeral services will be held at the Church of St Philomena at 10:30AM, followed by a burial at Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington.